You know that feeling when you walk into a stadium and the energy just shifts? It isn't just the beer or the lights. With Old Dominion, it’s the songwriting. Most people look at an old dominion song list and see a string of radio hits, but if you look closer, you’re actually looking at a masterclass in Nashville craftsmanship. These guys were songwriters for the giants—Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Sam Hunt—long before they were the ones standing under the spotlights.
They’re basically a garage band made of elite architects.
When Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, and Brad Tursi hit the stage, they aren't just playing tracks. They are playing a history of modern country music. Honestly, it’s kind of wild how many people don't realize that the "Old Dominion sound" was actually defining the genre years before Meat and Candy even dropped.
The anatomy of an old dominion song list
If you’re heading to a show this year, expect the unexpected. While a lot of Nashville acts stick to a rigid, click-track-heavy set, OD likes to keep things loose. They’ve been known to pivot based on the crowd's energy. It's refreshing.
The core of any old dominion song list starts with the heavy hitters. You’re going to hear "No Such Thing as a Broken Heart." It’s an anthem. It’s got that upbeat, almost Paul Simon-esque rhythmic quality that separates them from the "bro-country" era they emerged from. Then there is "One Man Band." That song changed everything for them. It proved they could handle the heavy, emotional ballads just as well as the summer-vibe heaters.
But the real magic happens in the deep cuts. Songs like "Midnight Mess Around" or "Can't Get You" offer a bit more groove. They lean into the bluesy, rock-infused side of their musicianship that the radio edits sometimes smooth over.
Why the "Songwriter Medley" is the best part of the night
This is where things get interesting. Usually, halfway through the set, the band strips it back. They talk about their days as "prolific nobodies" in Nashville writing rooms.
You’ll hear snippets of songs you definitely know but maybe didn't realize they wrote. For example:
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- "Save It for a Rainy Day" (Kenny Chesney)
- "Make You Miss Me" (Sam Hunt)
- "Sangria" (Blake Shelton)
- "A Guy Walks Into a Bar" (Tyler Farr)
It’s a flex. A total, absolute flex. But it’s done with such humility that you can't help but cheer. Seeing a band play their own version of a song that went Number One for someone else is a rare glimpse into the mechanics of Music City. It changes how you hear the rest of their original material. You start to notice the clever internal rhymes and the way they resolve chords differently than their peers.
Breaking down the hits: From "Snapback" to "Memory Lane"
Let’s talk about the evolution. Early on, the old dominion song list was defined by a specific kind of cleverness. "Break Up with Him" was their big breakout. It’s conversational. It’s basically a guy talking on a cell phone. At the time, that was a huge risk. It didn't sound like "country" in the traditional sense. It sounded like real life.
Then came the Happy Endings era.
"Hotel Key" and "Written in the Sand" showed a more polished, narrative-driven approach. "Written in the Sand" is particularly brilliant because it asks a question everyone has felt but rarely articulated: "Are we just a hit song on the radio and then it's gone?" It's meta. It's smart. It's why they keep winning CMA Vocal Group of the Year over and over again.
By the time we got to Time, Tequila & Therapy, the band was leaning into a soulful, almost yacht-rock vibe. "I Was on a Boat That Day" is perhaps the most fun you can have in three minutes. It’s chaotic. There’s an accordion. It shouldn't work as a country staple, yet it’s the highlight of every live show. The crowd goes absolutely nuclear when that drum fill starts.
The technical side: Why their live arrangements matter
If you’re a gear head or a music nerd, you’ll notice that the live old dominion song list doesn't sound exactly like the records. Brad Tursi is one of the most underrated guitarists in the business. His solos aren't just shredding for the sake of it; they’re melodic extensions of the song.
In "Memory Lane," the latest massive hit, the layers are incredible. On the record, it’s lush and shimmering. Live? It’s grittier. The bass is more prominent. Geoff and Whit—the rhythm section—are the unsung heroes here. They provide this pocket that allows the guitars to weave in and out. It’s a very "band" sound in an era of solo artists backed by session players.
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Most country acts use tracks for everything. OD uses them sparingly. That’s why a song might be ten seconds longer one night because they’re vibing on a groove. It’s organic.
Dissecting the "Meat and Candy" legacy
We have to go back to the beginning to understand the current setlist. Meat and Candy was a polarizing title, but it described their philosophy perfectly. The "meat" is the substance of the songwriting. The "candy" is the infectious hook.
"Song for Another Time" remains a staple. It’s a lyrical puzzle, stitching together titles of other famous songs to tell a new story. It’s the kind of song only a group of obsessed music fans could write. When they play it now, it feels like a legacy piece. It’s the bridge between their past as writers and their present as icons.
What's missing from the standard old dominion song list?
Look, no setlist is perfect. Fans always complain about the omissions. Personally, I think "Stars in the City" is one of their most beautiful tracks, but it rarely makes the cut in a high-energy festival environment. It’s a bit too atmospheric for a crowd of 20,000 people screaming for "Snapback."
There’s also "Be with Me." It’s a powerhouse, but with so many Number Ones to fit into a 90-minute slot, some of the mid-tempo stuff gets sacrificed. That’s the "problem" with having too many hits. You start having to kill your darlings.
- The Early Days: "Shut Me Up" and "Dirt on a Road." (Rarely heard now).
- The Big Winners: "No Such Thing as a Broken Heart," "Written in the Sand," "One Man Band."
- The New Era: "Memory Lane," "Can’t Break Up Now," "I Should Have Married You."
The pacing of their show is deliberate. They usually start with a high-tempo rocker to grab the throat of the audience, then settle into the "groove" section, hit the acoustic medley for the emotional peak, and then finish with a barrage of the biggest radio hits. It’s a proven formula because it works.
Navigating the discography for new fans
If you’re new to the band and trying to study up before a show, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits (though that's a solid start). Dive into the self-titled album from 2019. It’s arguably their most cohesive work. "Some People Do" is a heartbreaking look at personal growth and the messy reality of trying to be a better person. It’s a gut punch. It’s the "meat" they talked about.
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Then, jump to the Memory Lane EP and full-length. You can hear the confidence. They aren't trying to prove they belong anymore. They know they belong. The songwriting is tighter, the production is more adventurous, and the vibe is unmistakably theirs.
There is a sense of "togetherness" in their music that you don't get with solo acts. They grew up together in the industry. They struggled together. When you see "One Man Band" on the old dominion song list, it isn't just a love song to a partner; it’s a love song to the band itself. They realized they were better together than they ever were apart.
Actionable steps for the ultimate concert experience
To get the most out of an Old Dominion show, you need to do more than just show up. The band feeds off the crowd, especially during the improvisational moments.
Study the "Songwriter Medley" beforehand. If you know the words to the songs they wrote for other people, you become part of the "inner circle" of the audience. It’s a great feeling when Matthew Ramsey points the mic at the crowd during a Kenny Chesney cover and everyone nails the lyrics.
Check Recent Setlists on Setlist.fm. While they do change things up, they usually have a "tour skeleton." Checking the last three or four shows will give you a 90% accurate picture of what to expect. This helps you know when to head to the concourse for a drink (hint: don't do it during "One Man Band").
Listen for the transitions. One of the coolest things OD does is bleed one song into the next using a specific guitar riff or drum fill. It’s a subtle nod to their classic rock influences like Fleetwood Mac or The Eagles. Pay attention to the space between the songs—that's where the real musicianship lives.
Focus on the lyrics of the newer tracks. Songs like "I Should Have Married You" have these tiny, intricate details that are easy to miss in a loud arena. Giving the studio versions a few deep listens will make the live performance feel much more intimate.
Ultimately, an old dominion song list is a journey through the last decade of country music’s evolution. They took the "pop-country" sound and gave it a soul, a brain, and a really good groove. Whether you’re there for the radio hits or the deep-cut songwriting gems, you’re seeing a band at the absolute top of their game. They’ve earned every bit of the success they have by writing better songs than almost anyone else in the room.